Undergraduate Program Overview
The Faculty of Applied Science offers an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical Engineering (BME) addresses fundamental problems where human biology and physical design principles intersect. The program gives biomedical engineers the skills required to make scientific discoveries and inventions that promote health.
To ensure the quality of learning, students entering our program must have access to a computer that meets UBC security requirements and has a webcam, microphone, and speaker. Students are advised to check with SBME advisors and instructors on hardware and software requirements necessary, as well as resources available, prior to the start of their program.
Typically, UBC engineering programs begin with a common first year after which students apply for, and are registered in, a specific engineering program in second year. However, entry into the second year of the BME B.A.Sc. program requires BME-specific versions of the first-year courses and students wishing to study in the BME program after their first year are strongly encouraged to apply for registration in the “Pre-Biomedical Engineering Standardized Timetable (PBME STT)” after they apply to UBC’s first-year Engineering Program. The PBME STT is a modified version of the common first year and selection for the modified timetable is limited and competitive. This timetable allows students to take introductory material core to the BME program in Year 1. It also offers priority placement into BME in second year if all criteria are met.
Students apply for the BME B.A.Sc. after completing first-year engineering (or a comparable program at another university or college). Students who are admitted to the BME B.A.Sc. program without completing the PBME STT will have to complete any missing course requirements.
Students completing their first year in the PBME-modified first-year timetable will also be eligible for second-year placement into other Engineering programs at UBC.
| First Year - Pre-Biomedical Engineering Standardized Timetable | |
|---|---|
| APSC 100 | 3 |
| APSC 160 | 3 |
| BMEG 1011 | 3 |
| BMEG 1021 | 2 |
| CHEM 121 | 4 |
| CHEM 123 | 4 |
| MATH 100 | 3 |
| MATH 101 | 3 |
| MATH 152 | 3 |
| PHYS 157 | 3 |
| PHYS 158 | 3 |
| PHYS 170 | 3 |
| WRDS 150 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 40 |
| 1Students who come into Biomedical Engineering without taking BMEG 101 and BMEG 102 must take all of APSC 101, PHYS 159 (or equivalent) and BMEG 200. |
2022W Second Year Entry or Later to the Biomedical Engineering Program
Numerous specializations are available within Biomedical Engineering, by appropriate choice of several technical electives. These specializations include: Biomaterials; Biomechanics; Cellular Bioengineering; Biomedical Informatics; and Biomedical Systems and Signals among others. Specialization guides, consisting of groups of courses with their list of pre- and co-requisite courses in a particular area, will be provided to the students as guidance. The students can choose all the courses from a particular specialization guide or they can construct their own set of courses from the full list of technical electives. The undergraduate advisors and student services staff are available to advise the students on the specialization guides and potential strengths and considerations of other combinations of courses. Please consult the program website for a full list of specializations and technical elective selections.
2022W Second Year Entry of Later Program Requirements
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| BMEG 201 | 3 | |
| BMEG 210 | 3 | |
| BMEG 220 | 4 | |
| BMEG 230 | 4 | |
| BMEG 245 | 4 | |
| BMEG 250 | 4 | |
| BMEG 257 | 4 | |
| CPEN 221 or 223 | 4 | |
| MATH 253 or 226 | 3 | |
| MATH 256 | 3 | |
| MATH 264 | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 37 | |
| Third Year | ||
| BIOC 202 | 3 | |
| BMEG 310 | 4 | |
| BMEG 321 | 3 | |
| BMEG 350 | 4 | |
| BMEG 357 | 3 | |
| BMEG 371 | 3 | |
| CHEM 233 | 3 | |
| CHEM 235 | 1 | |
| STAT 251 | 3 | |
| Technical Electives1 | 6 | |
| Complementary Studies Electives2 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| BMEG 401 | 3 | |
| BMEG 455 | 3 | |
| BMEG 457 | 6 | |
| STAT 300 | 3 | |
| Technical Electives1 | 15 | |
| Complementary Studies Electives2 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| 1 To be chosen from a Technical Elective course list available on the program website in consultation with an undergraduate advisor. https://www.bme.ubc.ca/ | ||
| 2 See Complementary Studies Courses. Students planning to apply to Medical School should take a first-year English course as their complementary studies elective. Students should confirm the specific pre-requisite courses for the Medical School(s) to which they will apply. | ||
2018W - 2021W Second Year Entry into the Biomedical Engineering Program
The program is offered four streams of technical electives to allow students to focus on particular areas of Biomedical Engineering: Cellular Bioengineering; Biomedical Systems and Signals; Biomechanics and Biomaterials; and Biomedical Informatics. Students should consult the program website for technical elective selection for each stream.
NOTE: : Students who enter Year 3 standing in 2023W or later will be in the “specializations” curriculum, which has different requirements from the original “streams” curriculum.
The program is designed to align with admissions criteria for medical school. Students intending to apply to medical school after their biomedical engineering program must take a first-year English course as a complementary study. Other courses within the program are considered equivalent for the purposes of the Biology content recommended by the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
2018W - 2021W Second Year Entry Program Requirements
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| BMEG 201 | 3 |
| BMEG 210 | 3 |
| BMEG 220 | 4 |
| BMEG 230 | 4 |
| BMEG 245 | 4 |
| BMEG 250 | 4 |
| BMEG 257 | 4 |
| CHBE 251 | 3 |
| CPEN 221 or CPEN 2231 | 4 |
| MATH 253 or 226 | 3 |
| MATH 256 | 3 |
| MATH 264 | 1 |
| Total Credits | 40 |
| Third Year | |
| BIOC 202 | 3 |
| BMEG 310 | 4 |
| BMEG 321 | 3 |
| BMEG 350 | 4 |
| BMEG 357 | 3 |
| BMEG 371 | 3 |
| CHEM 233 | 3 |
| CHEM 235 | 1 |
| STAT 251 | 3 |
| Stream-based Courses | 9 |
| Complementary Studies Electives2 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 39 |
| Fourth Year | |
| BMEG 401 | 3 |
| BMEG 455 | 3 |
| BMEG 457 | 6 |
| STAT 300 | 3 |
| Stream-based Courses | 18 |
| Complementary Studies Electives2 | 6 |
| Total Credits | 39 |
| 1 Students planning to complete the Bioinformatics option should take CPEN 221. | |
| 2 See Complementary Studies Courses. Students planning to apply to Medical School should take a first-year English course as their complementary studies elective. Students should confirm the specific pre-requisite courses for the Medical School(s) to which they will apply. | |
Stream Based Courses (Please note, Streams for this program are no longer offered).
| Students completing the Cellular Bioengineering Stream must complete the following: | |
| BIOC 302 | 3 |
| BMEG 374 | 3 |
| BMEG 470 | 3 |
| CHBE 381 | 3 |
| Additional technical electives4 | 15 |
| Students completing the Biomedical Informatics Stream must complete the following: | |
| CPSC 221 | 4 |
| CPSC 340 | 3 |
| Either MATH 220 | 3 |
| Or CPSC 121 | 4 |
| Additional technical electives4 | 16 (if taking CPSC 121) 17 (if taking MATH 220) |
| Students completing the Biomedical Systems and Signals Stream must complete the following: | |
| BMEG 320 | 3 |
| ELEC 221 | 4 |
| Additional technical electives4 | 20 |
| Students completing the Biomaterials and Biomechanics Stream must complete the following: | |
| APSC 278 | 3 |
| APSC 279 | 1 |
| BMEG 330 | 3 |
| MECH 260 | 3 |
| Additional technical electives4 | 17 |
| 4 To be chosen from a course list available on the program website and in consultation with an undergraduate advisor. | |
Cooperative Education Experiential Work Terms
Cooperative education experiential learning placements are an integral part of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering program. Students will typically complete four 4-month experiential learning placements coordinated through the Applied Science Co-op Program. Work terms can take place during the Winter or Summer terms. Students should refer to the program website for the current schedule. Students unable to complete one or more co-op terms should consult with a departmental advisor.